Moustache - Goodbye!

So, the last day of November and my magnificent moustache has to bite the dust tonight.  Actually, it's not very magnificent and I'm not doing it again.  It doesn't look good  -although I don't want to sound vain, it's just not right, if you see what I mean.  By 'right' I suppose it's what you get used to.  I read somewhere that your face is instantly recognisable, which is stating the obvious really, but what they were trying to say was that if you make a change to your face (e.g. grow a moustache) then you make a significant change to your appearance, not a minor one.  Taking this argument further, it means that other changes - losing one arm or leg, breast enhancement etc would not be viewed as such a major change. So, in conclusion, if you want to change your appearance, don't waste your money, just go for a moustache. ..unless you're a woman, in which case go for the boob job.  I always notice that anyway.

Cryingair and Leveson

Pricing strategies - a marketing man's dream, exemplified by Ryanair.  They continually take it to new heights, often copied by others as much as they dare.  ..which is why I never give them any of my money.  Last year, I paid extra to fly with a rival airline (Monarch) to avoid Ryanair.  I don't know how they manage to sleep at night offering a ridiculously low headline price, and then slapping countless additional charges on to pay for what I think of as standard items.  Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, I remember they used to offer a discount if you booked on line, but now they charge extra for the privilege!  The latest wheeze is to put an additional charge on for 'website costs'. What???! what about staffing costs?  MDs salary? Office building, Company car costs? etc etc. Will they itemise every single overhead ?  Even more reason to stay away from them.
Mind you, they seem to make money, so they're doing something right and my whinging is only putting a small dent in the profits!

It's Leveson report time at 13:30 today (in about an hour as I write this).  The major debate is how to regulate the press - self regulated or some independent body backed by laws.  I can't see how they will go for the 'legal' option without sacrificing freedom of speech, and if you suppress that you suppress all sorts of things you need to be able to report on.  However, I have a great deal of sympathy for those that have had their private lives intruded upon...but this is balanced by those who have willingly colluded in having their own private lives intruded upon intentionally to gain some free publicity or free advertising.  I cite the likes of Jordan etc. who would be nobodies without press attention.  I guess we have so far relied on each newspaper's judgement on what should and shouldn't be published, and that decision process seems to have aimed too low.
Enough of this serious stuff - let's see what the main man has to say about it.

Risky Business!

There's an interesting discussion between the insurance companies and government going on.  It's got even more pertinent after all the recent rain and flooding.  My understanding is that the insurance companies don't want to be burdened with high risk - something that is inherent within their business surely?  I guess it's the relative costs involved.  With flood damage, they rip out anything that has been wet - carpets, kitchen units, skirting, doors etc. etc., and even replaster in most cases ..and that 'replace everything' policy is probably partly to blame for them not wanting to pay up for everything.  If they limited the replacement policy to essential damage (can you have such a thing?), then the cost of repair would be less, less risk, and so on.  I should mention here the building trade that must have made a tidy profit from other's sufferings (I'm not including the insurance companies in that statement, because it's their job, not their life) - they have metaphorically rubbed their hands at such rich pickings. 'New skirtings? No problem madam, why don't I go up the stairs at the same time?  They'll never know'..and surely that rotten door frame was affected by the flood water? Leave it with me'.  Of course, I just made that scenario up, but I'm sure it's going on.  And what about the assessors?  Their job is to go out, assess the damage and report back to their insurance bosses that x and y need doing at great cost. The issue here, is that if they found very little needed doing, they would gradually reduce the amount of work they themselves would do as they found less and less work for the insurance companies to manage, the insurance companies would reduce their need for assessors.  It's just a very convenient money laden bandwagon that as many people of possible jump on, and those that are not on it complain.  If it's government money, even better!
The latest cyclocross results move me up a couple of places into 7th overall in the 50+ league (out of 17).  There's only a couple or races left, and I might get another place higher barring mechanical mishap.  I can't believe now that after the Ormsby race when my chain jumped off and knackered my rear mech I was seriously thinking it wasn't for me and I'd be better off keeping to the roads.  It just goes to show how 'feelings' are transitionery and try as might, we always struggle to put them into perspective.  It could be that the way I feel now about cylocross (good fun, enjoyable etc) is actually a false state of mind, and theose earlier thoughts (no fun, not enjoyable) are my true feelings? Now there's a psychologists dream scenario.

Cyclohell

So, Vettel becomes F1 champion splashed on most sports pages today.  Big deal.  There's plenty of other sports news though - anti-semantic chanting at Tottenham, anti-Benitez banners at Chelsea. 
We must be due another enquiry soon.
There was nothing like that yesterday at the cyclocross at Bardney.  A howling, icy gale; a boggy field and puddles up to the bottom bracket combined to make it a memorable occasion.  It's what I always thought cyclocross should be - like a cycling equivalent of running cross country.  No let up to your efforts and a feeling of real satisfaction when you've finished.  Of course, you soon forget about the cold wash of brown water that covers you from toe to chest (with an occasional facefull) when going through the puddles. Did I say puddles? more like small lakes after the rain of Saturday night.  The fields round and about were saturated, and the fields we rode across were likewise.  The results show a second place for yours truly in the 50+ vets, but well down (36th) overall.  That's my best showing so far, more because of low numbers (65) than any real performace improvement - although I don't think I'm getting worse.  It's Winterton next week which (I guess) will be under suitably wet conditions given the forecast.

I've got Friday on my mind..

Well, it's Friday and that's supposed to signify a welcome return of 'The Weekend'.  It hasn't actually gone away, it's really a brand new weekend never, ever seen before, so actually it can't be a return, more like a 'welcome to the new weekend'. Whatever it is, it's usually better than the week.  I have a cyclocross race on Sunday which should be fun after all this rain.  I notice it's forecast rain all Sat night and through Sunday morning, so I'm expecting plenty of sticky bits where we'll have to decide whether to ride or run.  As a 'runner', you would think I would be better than riding, but that theory ignores the dismounting/mounting factors that can (and have) influenced decisions about this sort of thing.  Take last week for example.  I dismounted for the telegraph pole, only to hit my hip on a tree when remounting and the next lap caught my tender parts on the seat when I jumped back on.  Not nice, especially the second time.  Having said all that, I'm much better than I was at the start of the season a couple of months back, so jumping off/on is a slightly better option in some circumstances.
We're also going to see Grease on Saturday night which I'm hoping is going to be good.  I do hope they have live music - they should for 35 quid a ticket.  That's one of the more enjoyable aspects of live theatre - live music. I don't remember what we went to see and the music was recorded, I felt quite ripped off, which is not unusual for me, but more ripped off than usual.  Talking of which, what makes you feel like you've been ripped off? Is it the relative price you've paid for an item versus your disposable income?  Is it price v. expectation? price v quality?  etc.  I'm not too sure, maybe the price v. expectation which is (depending on the purchase) a pretty poor calculation when I think about it. e.g. how do I know the profitability of the theatre production of Grease?  If they are scraping along with minimal profits, and all income is swallowed up by the production, then why should I think it's a ripoff?  Mind you, I can't imagine any advertising showing income  v. expenditure to help me make a decision, but it might be useful.

Local is good.

Formula 1?  I used to be really interested in it.  The tactics, technical intricacies, the sheer speed, split second reactions, the crashes (of course), but most of all the desire to see my 'favourite' win, in much the same way as I always glow a little when Grimsby Town win, I do when, say, Jenson Button wins. Well, he's English isn't he?  It's a local thing.  If Europe were playing in the SuperDooperChampions League of Continents, most Brits would support Europe.  Wouldn't they?  I know you always get the oddball supporting Australasia due to some 'but they're technically better' reason, as in F1 where you seem to get quite a number of Lewis detractors, and think e.g. Alonso is better.  Now, I'm not going to get into a Lewis v.v Alonso argument, but isn't one of them English and therefore 'local'?  Surely that trumps 'better'?  Well, it does in my book, although I can see why others differ. it's just that they don't add the 'local' weight to the argument.  Take the Champions League, I even end up supporting Chelsea for heavens sake!  If it ends up Manchester V Chelsea, the it's Manchester all the way.  I'm trying to think of an occasion where I broke this 'supporting local' rule, but can't.  Anyway, back to F1 and how my interest has waned.  It's all to do with selling the rights to Sky and how Bernie Ecclestone and his beancounters must have rubbed their hands on getting an increased fee, whilst at the same time saying ti was 'for the fans'.  My ar$e, it was for themselves.  Where it used to get 5 million viewers on a Sunday afternoon, it now gets 1 million, and BBC are left with a shoddy, late highlights program with rubbish commentators and poor presenters.  Not that presenters are that important (although the BBC probably think they are), it's the commentating team of boring David Coulthard and the know nothing other chappie who I can't remember.  Bring back Martin Brundle.  At least he knew what he was taking about.  The only bloke worth listening to is Gary Anderson who used to be technical director for one of the teams, although I'm not sure which one - I guess he got sacked because he was too old.  I mean, he's only just older than me.  Over on the radio, they've hired Jamie Alguesari (probably spelt incorrectly) who continues with the annoying driver habit of stating the bleeding obvious, predicting both obvious outcomes of a race, followed by 'to be sure'.  That 'to be sure' seems to be a standard F1 phrase used by everyone in F1.  I never hear it in any other sport, to be sure.

Weather you like?

Rain, and more rain, weather you like it or not. Ha ha!
Didn't go for my run last night - too wet, too cold, too tired.  I have a theory that our bodies are shutting down for Winter, a sort of mini-hibernation.  My wife seems to be backing this theory up by falling asleep around 9 o'clock every evening, something she never did a month ago.
..or maybe we're getting old.

Poor condition

Payments to police by editors of the Sun.  Who would have believed it?  I would never have believed they would be prosecuted, the payment thing I always assumed was going on all the time, although it didn't occupy my mind an awful lot.  It's quite surprising to me that you (me) can get worked up so much about something that you knew was an issue, but was just out of your consciousness for years and years and then WHAM! it's in everybody's face and you have a really strong opinion on it - or not as the case my be.
Take vested interests.  Yes, take them - that's what we're programmed to do, to better oneself by whatever means necessary tempered by one's moral code which in itself is merely a lifelong conditioning based on your upbringing and 'who you hang around with'.  Lining your pockets with oil shares whilst pushing climate scepticism is one example (Peter Lilley), and there's countless examples in politics not confined to any one party, it's just, well, normal.
Talking of conditioning, what about the lady who (allegedly) stole £85 from my daughter's purse and then had the barefaced cheek to get the £85 out her own purse after she had swiped it, and say "It's not me cos I've got my £85 here".  What sort of conditioning has she received to be able to give that sort of barefaced lie, keep a straight face and think (correctly unfortunately, in this case) that she would get away with stealing another persons hard earned cash.  God job we don't all get that conditioning, that would make for a difficult society.  Mind you, we'd all be more careful where we left our handbags.
Tuesday night is running night.  I use the term 'running' now I've cracked the 9 minute mile barrier.  I always think that anything over 9 minutes is jogging.  It's a sort of athletic snobbery.  Hopefully get 8 miles in, but we'll see.  I felt tired all last week, and although I got 7 in on Tuesday, I didn't do anything the rest of the week except for a swim.

X marks the spot

Police Commissioners - what a larf.  I can understand the good intentions behind it, but to think the ordinary man in the street (I think I can count as one of those) is going to go out of their way to vote for them is a joke.  No wonder they are saying this is a low turnout - I'm surprised anyone bothered at all.  Mind you, there's always a few folk thinking they know whats best for us and will go and vote.  You just hope they outnumber the nutters.  Heck, they might even be the nutters.

Freesheets

Free newspapers - whoever would have thought such a thing.  I remember going to a seminar in the early 90s where someone suggested companies had to give away free content to stay competitive in the web-enabled world. I reckon newspapers have had to give away more than most, given that the Guardian (one of my favourites) loses goodness knows how much every week.  In actual fact, I don't know why anyone who is themselves web-enabled (i.e. has easy access to the web) would want to buy a newspaper anyway - what's the point of getting your hands dirty?  Some, like The Times have a free area and a 'pay-wall' behind which lies the in-depth 'expensive' articles, although I haven't tested this so it might be just as bad...which brings me onto the BBC.  Because of the all-encompassing nature of 'media' nowadays, the BBC has naturally strayed into web broadcasting in line with all other media outlets, and this, more than any other medium, conflicts with competitors.  Personally, I like the idea of a funded, independent BBC even if it is in direct competition with commercial media companies like News International.  It's always been like this anyway - ITN was up against it almost from day 1 of the TV days, so NI's biggest problem should not be the BBC, but it's own commercial rivals jostling for space in the big web wired world.  The Express has recently bought Channel 5 - not a major issue, but shows that traditional newspaper companies have to diversify or they will definitely die.  I'm convinced that newspapers will soon only exist in print form for niche markets or be free, full of adverts in both cases.
Getting back to News International, I notice that it draws a lot of it's news items (On Sky News) from American news agencies.  I guess they share the info with Fox News, and probably helps them with US advertisers in the on-line Sky News (which is the only one I access).  I notice the same with Guardian Online which has ticker-tape headlines with more than a fair share of breaking news stories from the US, so I guess the strategy is to make it more appealing to the US audience.  Either that, or 'breaking news' is limited in the UK.   Mind you, I do think that the 'Breaking News' titel isover used, and often stays with a story for quite some time, well after it has 'broken'.  I wonder what rules they use to tag a story as Breaking News (BN from now on) - when all new stories are BN.

Ah well, as long as I can get access to UK news somewhere I'm not too bothered.  ..as long as it's free!

Oil be having you

Just a quick one today.  Forgot during my lunch hour, so I need to get back to business shortly.
I'm well into Movember - moustache is taking on an embarassing colour - which is mainly grey as you would expect.  Despite me turning up my nose at the charity moustache thing I succumbed to it, although I haven't registered anywhere, preferring to do it just for a laugh.  When I look in a mirror I'm not too impressed, but what the heck, only a couple of weeks to go.
58.2p per litre for heating oil.  Bargain.  Not.  My regular 1000 litres comes today, I'm sure t was about 9p when I moved in 15 years ago.  At least we don't heat many bedrooms now so I have seen a reduction since the kiddies moved out.  But not in electricity which is odd, or maybe that's gone up a huge amount as well - in fact I'm sure it has.  Anyway, suffice to say that keeping yourself warm and washed is not a low cost activity.  Luckily we have a wood burner in the lounge.  I've looked at one for the kitchen, but blimey, they (Grange Reproductions) wanted about 3000 quids to put it in.  No way.
I haven't ruled out me putting it in, but money is a bit scarce nowadays.

Stat is right

'Lies, damn lies and statistics'.  I love that quote, said to be by Mark Twain who quoted Disraeli but (according to Wikipedia) there's no sign of Disraeli using it.  Whoever said it, it really does sum up statistics.  Take today's episode..I just published some telephone stats and within half an hour I had a grumpy employee asking what I was doing.  She obviously was not impressed, but the issue is that she didn't look at the overall scene, instead she concentrated on her part of it, how it could be perceived and how it reflects on her without looking at the big picture.  I'm sure I'm now classified as a 'liar' as per the quote.  She'll have to get over it ..... or not.
Cleaned my bikes last night.  The road bike was worse than I thought (after it's 53 mile evening jaunt) and the CX bike not so bad cos it only did a mile before puncturing.  I'm wondering if I need to get a new/better back tyre.  If it was a piece of flint, which I'm sure it was it happened so fast, then the tyre might be damaged.  I had that on my road bike earlier this year and kept getting punctures probably because the split in the tyre nipped the innertube.  It's Nettleton CX this coming Sunday so don't know if I should sort the tyre out or not.  I'll probably leave it to late and end up with another puncture.
Hopefully do a longer run tonight.  My (much) better half is out until about 7:15, so we have a late tea and gives me an hour+ to get a run in.  I tried out some new earphones last week and they were very good.  Didn't fall out due to the fact that they hook behind the ears although heading into the wind was a bit noisy so I had to turn it up.  I listen to podcasts such as Front Row, Friday Night Comedy and other (mainly) Radio 4 stuff that I'm never in to listen to.  Podcasts are really quite good.

First Impressions

So, George Entwistle resigns.  Just to remind ourselves, this was the Director General of the BBC.  I put this because in a few weeks/days/years he will be a nobody, which for him is a shame because I expect he was quite chuffed to get the DGs job.  He could have been there for years and years, retiring with a fat pension and plenty of after-dinner invites.  I always thought he was a bit off myself - not very personable, although why I get that impression I don't know  Its not as if I know him, just an impression.  Very important, impressions.
Which makes me ponder - what impression do I give?  What I'd like to think of myself is, I'm sure, vastly different to what others see in me.  ..but I've never been one to try and change who I am.  I mean , if you did that you wouldn't be who are you are, you would be someone else and that someone else would actually be you, so you haven't changed at all.  Maybe that's what they mean when someone says 'I'm a like a new man'.  Or is that when you come out of the closet?  Whatever it is, it's not for me.  Some days I get very enthusisatic about e.g. writing a report, and think 'Ah, this is the new me, burying myself in this report'.  But it doesn't last, although I do like to get things like that out of the way, but just by being 'me'. Just be yourself, I say, whatever that is.
It was a cyclocross at Woodhall Spa yesterday.  I recce'ed the course relishing the ups and downs of some of the hillocks, got going and got a flipping puncture after a mile.  Not even a full lap!  I wasn't overly impressed but what can one do?    You can have a spare bike in the pits, that's what.

70's nostalgia

Philip Schofield is in the news today - handing the PM a list of alleged paedophiles.  'Not proper journalism' according to a couple of MPs, well, what do they expect at that time of the day on ITV?  It's like saying Newsnight doesn't have enough jokes. Of course, it's more stuff about who did what to who 30 odd years ago.  I suppose we have to go though the motions, but nothing will become of it. If there's anyone living implicated they will probably wait until they're dead beofer publishing a report that says 'They're dead now'.  The thing is, it was all my boyhood role models - Gary Glitter, Jimmy Saville, Dave Lee Travis etc.  Not that I was enthralled by them, especially not Dave Leee Travis who I thought was an egotistical nerd, but they were part of the celebrity landscape.  I did harbour fantasies about coming on stage like Gary Glitter, eyes bulging, milking the applause to the openeing bass drum sounds of 'Do you wanna be in my gang'.
It's the Woodhall Spa cyclocross race on Sunday which (I'm told) is a good venue, so we'll see.  The last one at Hubbards Hills was good, but hard work.  Hopefully it will stay warm, it was 12 deg C yesterday.

Dribble

Cream cakes - very satisfying. Unless you have 2, then you feel a bit like you've overeaten and some regret creeps in.  I asked someone going to Tesco to get a few cakes - Cooplands was more convenient as it turned out - so I'm 15 quid lighter and everyone is walking round with cream over their chin.  I think Tesco would have been cheaper, but what the heck.
I ran just over 8 miles last night, that's the furthest since my return from the dodgy knee.  I was going to say 'since my return from injury' but that would sound like I'm professional which I am definitely not.  It was a slow 8 miles at an average edging towards 9 min miles but no bad affects.  In fact, I might do another 8 tonight, or possibly a ride in the dark - which I'm not very keen of, but I guess I can pick a quiet route into the Wolds somewhere.  Thing is, I'm not sure my front light is charged up now I think about it.  If not, it'll be a run.
I used my new iPhone earphones last night, listening to the Front Row weekly podcast.  They have some good interviews and some not so good.  Boring in actual fact, but last night's was reasonable.  The talk show chap - can't remember his name now- who took over from Jonathon Ross on the BBC was asked about prep for his new series etc.  Quite Interesting.

The names' Bond...

I was trying to access this blog last night - from the caravan but Wifi access was non-existent so failed miserably.  I was babysitting from 7.30 to 11 whilst they went to the cinema.  Bond, James Bond.  We went to see it on Sunday night, an excellent film although not a cheap night after you're bought the obligatory bucket of popcorn and a coke.  Small version of both were just under a tenner.  Still, we haven't been since goodness knows when so it's a bit of a treat.  No Lovefilm or similar for us.  The only other time I get to watch films without being distratcted is on longhaul flights, not that they're very common, but more common that going to the cinema interestingly enough.  It's probably not that interesting, but it's an interesting comparison given the fact that I'm not impressed by cinema pricing (well under 20 quid for 2 x tickets) compared with a longhaul flight to e.g. the caribbean priced conservatively at 2000.  That could buy us quite a few films, even if we splashed out on the VIP seats.

Friday foughts

Another day, another 10 minutes to while (wile?) away.  It's Friday, so thoughts turn to the weekend.  We're baby sitting for daughter number 3 tonight, well, not for her, but for her children.  2 of them whilst mum and dad enjoy themselves at some ball or other at Forest Pines.  I don't suppose they will be back until well midnight or so, so I had better take my glasses and a magazine - I don't expect much on the TV.  As it happens (now the, now then) we are not doing much this weekend which makes a change so I might get out on my bike both days.  We have a family meal booked for Sunday lunch but that should not interfere much.  My mother is coming along (which is a rarity) so at least we'll be treated to some add views on things.
Talking of biking, it's so dark in the evenings I can't see me getting out at all furing the week.  Not sure I want to chance it in the dark although I've got some decent lights and a reflective jacket.  I've done a couple of runs this week as well as 1500m last night in the pool.  I should try and get some early morning exercise in, but despite me thinking I'm a 'morning person' (see earlier entry), I'm no good in the mornings for that sort of stuff, I just can't get motivated.  I must remember to take that triathlon traiing book to Sophes tonight, there must be some tips in there for cramming exercising in.
It's interesting how you can read a book expecting it to help you do something that is totally in your hands e.g. running at 6 in the morning.  How the heck can any book motivate you to get out in the freezing cold dark, damp morning just to get a bit fitter.  I'll read it anyway, just in case.
Thinking about it, if I go out at 6, get say, 5 miles in which takes me around 40 mins, warm up/down for 15 mins, I'll not get out the house until afer 7, so I have to actually get out at about 5.45 whcih means getting up at at least 5.30 to get dressed, make my sandwiches etc (if required).  Hmmm, no wonder I don't do it.

Phil Space...

Movember.  What a crass word, but it's commendable that some might want to do something for charity.  Most people I know just like the attention - a bit like Children in Need japes like shaving your head etc. 'Look at me, I'm great', when actually I'm thinking 'what a "£$%er'.  I don't like to swear here, although I would if I was speaking.  It's just that writing something is sort of  'final', you can't backtrack on the written word (just ask those Twitter users who embarass themsleves).  Whilst speaking something, you can quickly inform listeners you didn't actually mean it, although you probably did but your following few words can minimise the impact.  Safe to say I won't be growing a moustache, in November or any other month.
I've been contemplating creating a 'technical blog' to run alongside this one, but will I get enough time to do it? Can I be bothered? Am I capable of such a thing? Why do it?  The last question is easy - I saw an advert for technical bloggers - so the idea is that I would get paid.  How good would that be?!
I've noticed over the last few years the rise of the blogger replacing journalists.  It could be more prevelant in technical journals, but I'm not sure.  The think that annoys me though is the increasing use of Twitter as input to news items both on the TV and in the press.  Why we want to know what a celebrity has stated about a particular newsworthy incident is beyond me.  And taking my earlier point about the written word, how much credence can we put on a short Twitter statement that probably took all of 20 seconds to write on the spur of the moment.  That's not to say some journalists take a similar time to write articles, but they are professionals.  Celebrities are not to be taken seriously at the best of times, least of all when it comes to comments on e.g. a missing child, serious crime or similar.
I just think that it's an easy space filler for editors now they've sacked all the proper journalists.  Mind you, newspapers are on their way out anyway, which is why I think we'll be left with a massive BBC news outlet (and asociated 'magazines'), a very small number of large commercial offerings such as Sky News and a few niche outlets catering for the nutters amongst us.  Where Daily Mail readers will migrate to I have no idea, but hopefully they will stop thinking middle England is stuck in the early 20th century.
Right, beter get back to work and think about that technical blog option.